Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that I choose to use in this fiction.
OK! This is a hurt/comfort chapter, and for those of you wondering who North's favorite character was in Naruto, that will be revealed next chapter. Please don't forget to REVIEW!
It was just another winter day with Jack Frost flitting from city to city bringing liquid happiness in crystallized form. He was soaring over the Northeastern section of North America fully intent on dumping enough snow on New York to last them till Christmas. Ever since Toothiana made him watch the movie Miracle on 34th street, Jack was determined that all New Yorkers should enjoy snow, and lots of it. So he was on his way to bring a snow storm that would close out the schools for at least one day to the big apple.
But things rarely go as planned…
Without warning, a nightmare dove from the sky, driving its front hooves in a fierce kick right on Jack's lower back. The winter sprite let out a sharp cry of pain at the unexpected attack, and was just barely saved by the wind from going head first into a sky scraper. Twirling around, Jack glared at his enemy, his eyes wary and watchful for any other monsters wanting to join their little party.
"Alright Nightmare…" Jack smirked as he arranged his hands in a better grip on his staff "There's nothing you can do that will scare me…"
Suddenly the Nightmare let out a shrill neigh before the dark sand roiled on top of its head, going up and up until it formed a sharp horn. Jack stared in slack jawed surprise at the now black unicorn made out of nightmare sand standing in front of him.
"Well…" Jack murmured to himself as an afterthought "That's new."
With a shrug, and a mental kick in the pants, Jack dove forward with a loud battle cry. Horn met staff, and soon the two were dueling in the sky. The winter sprite ducked and weaved, his face hard, and brow furrowed with the concentration it took not to get impaled.
"You know," he panted "I never thought that I would have a sword fight with a horse. This is definitely going in the metaphorical scrapbook of the strange and obscene things I have been forced to endure."
The horse stomped one foot before standing up on its hind legs and brandishing its horn. Jack gave the thing a cheeky, albeit exhausted grin "What, don't feel like talking? Too bad you aren't as chatty as your master…at least you have eyebrows. Score one for you."
"Now Jack, that wasn't very kind."
The winter spirit tensed as he heard the sickeningly smooth voice float out from thin air. Twirling his staff in his hands, Jack squared his shoulders and yelled out his challenge.
"Where are you Pitch? Or are you too scared to face me because you know you'll get beaten up again by someone half your size?"
"Your taunt, though amusing, is not very original." Sighed the disembodied voice "You know very well that due to your…interference…I am unable to gain full corporeal form as of yet, but don't worry I sent along some new playmates for you. What do you think of my latest creation?"
Jack gave the unicorn an appraising glance, one finger tapping his chin as he took on the appearance of someone giving their opinion on a piece of art in a gallery.
"I hate to throw your words back in your face Pitch" the sprite replied in a snarky tone "But your latest nightmare, though amusing, is not very original."
"Little brat" came the growled reply "Let's see how much humor you have left in you when it is a whole army of my little pets."
"Oh great," Jack groaned as thirty more black unicorns joined the first and surrounded him on every side "Good job Jack, way to put your foot in your mouth."
"Good bye Jack" Pitch whispered menacingly "I doubt we will see each other again."
"Well you know me," the boy said as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck "I'm not really one who fulfills expectations."
Like an ebony tsunami, the black unicorns charged the boy, and Jack fought for all he was worth. Slashing through the nightmares, even as their horns slashed through him. He began to lose count of how many times he felt the blinding, white hot pain of yet another gash across his side, or through his leg. Finally, he curled up in a ball, gathering his energy within him and compacting it into a large scale wave. Springing back out with his legs and arms, Jack screamed out in pain as he thrust out his last vestiges of strength towards his enemies, blasting them all into clouds of dust.
Jack panted hard, his breath coming in wheezing gasps as his eyesight grew blurry. He barely acknowledged that his staff had slipped from his now numb fingertips, and was tumbling through the air towards the ground below, and soon the white haired child was following after it as his eyes rolled back in an exhausted swoon.
The wind tried it's best to catch him, but without his staff, it was able to do little more than slow his descent. With a sickening crack, the boy fell into a dark alley, and was conscious just long enough to note that for some reason, he couldn't feel his toes.
…
Sandy flew through the sky, sprinkling his dream sand to the thousands of children living in New York. He enjoyed big cities. It was the one time he could truly let loose, and allow his dream sand to cover the building in veritable mounds, looking much like a golden version of Jacks snow. He loved his work, but tonight, something seemed off. Something niggled in the back of his brain that was setting off alarm bells of unease throughout the usually very cheerful man. Finally, he gave a sigh of resignation, and decided it was best to follow his gut feeling wherever it may lead.
To say that Sandy was grieved at the horrendous sight meeting his eyes would have been a vast understatement, but the Sandman was rarely one who allowed emotion to cloud sound judgment, especially when action was required. When he found Jack's broken and bloody body in the alley, he knew there was only one thing he could do. Take Jack to North's workshop, and send out the dreams from there. And so, gathering the fragile body up onto the softest cloud ever crafted from dream sand, Sandy began the long trek to Santoff Claussen in hopes of saving the life of one very special child.
…
The first thing Jack became aware of was pain, hot burning pain lancing throughout his body originating from his back. His eyes fluttering open, the boy was hit by a wave of nausea and sheer agony. Gritting his teeth, he tried to hold back the sobs creeping up his throat, but as wave after wave assaulted his senses, Jack felt his resolve to stay strong weakening. Clamping his lips, and clenching his eyes shut, Jack forced himself to take several deep breaths through his nose in an effort to fight off the urge to curl up in a ball and cry. But his concentration was disturbed by a furry paw running through his hair.
"Oi, snowflake" an Aussie accent said softly "How ya feelin'?"
Jack cracked open one eye so that he could send a shaky smile up at the face hovering over him "I've certainly seen better days Cotton tail" he rasped "But don't worry your ears off, I'll be up and around, beating you in races soon enough."
Jack had expected Bunny to reply in his usual snarky insult, but something in the Pooka's broke as he gazed down on the broken form of his friend. Giving a heavy swallow, Aster asked hesitantly "Jack, do you feel anything? Anything at all?"
Jack blinked in confusion "No…" he replied slowly "I mean, my back hurts if that's what you mean, but other than that I don't feel anything."
Bunny closed his eyes in abject grief, allowing his emotions to surface. Stepping aside, Jack was allowed to see Tooth standing at the foot of his bed grabbing one of his toes. Her lavender eyes wide with panic, she whispered in pained tones "Jack, are you sure you can't feel this, right here?"
The winter spirit felt his heart speed up as his breath hitched, and then began to hyperventilate. Terror filled tears began their lonely trek down his face as he determinedly tried to wiggle his toes, but his hopes crashed and burned as he saw nothing happen. North, the Sandman, Tooth, and the Easter Bunny waited expectantly, hoping against hope that the x-rays were wrong. But with a tortured sob, Jack cast broken eyes up at the tooth fairy and shook his head.
"No Tooth" he whispered in agony "I don't feel anything…"